But what families of the 270 victims — including 189 Americans, many just college kids — who perished that day in 1988 want to know is: Where was the “compassion” for their loved ones?

“It’s an utter insult and utterly disgusting,” said Kara Weipz, whose 20-year-old brother Richard Monetti died in the blast. “It’s horrible. I don’t show compassion for someone who showed no remorse.”

In fact, Megrahi’s release is outrageous. On its face, it makes little sense: He was given a life sentence — meaning he was to remain in jail until the day he dies.

But Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said Megrahi had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and given only months to live — and thus was now eligible for release. Huh?

Even President Obama, hardly known for backing stiff sentencing, called Megrahi’s release a mistake.

Nor, as the judge himself admitted, does it matter that a Scottish review panel in 2007 raised questions about his conviction. After all, his guilty verdict stands — to this day.

“Our interest is justice and . . . the commitment that we made to the families,” a State Department spokesman said last week. “He had a fair trial. He was convicted. He’s serving his time. And we think he should stay in jail.” Hear, hear.

Yes, we know Libyan dictator Moammar Khadafy gave up on nukes after he saw what happened to Saddam Hussein — and that freeing his agent can be seen as his reward for that. We know firms, especially in Britain, have sought to ratchet up business with Libya.

But post-9/11, leniency for terrorists is as misguided as it is dangerous.